URBAN DESIGNER 1
Career Family: URBAN DESIGNER
To land Urban Designer 1 in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
To be eligible you bring a bachelor's degree and 1 year of relevant experience.
How to apply
-
Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
-
Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under the supervision of an Urban Designer 3 or other supervisor in a local government agency, assists in the development of land use plans in conjunction with planners and architects concentrating on the physical development of a town or city with an emphasis on the public realm; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Assists in the planning and design of public spaces and infrastructure including redevelopment projects, public parks, transportation, and landscapes; focusing on the user experience of the projects.
- Works with supervising staff to develop a working knowledge of multiple neighborhood districts through research, site visits, and meeting with community members.
- Assists with neighborhood planning projects and keeps the impacted community updated as the project proceeds, while also receiving community feedback.
- Prepares urban design strategies that clearly communicate planning principles.
- Assists with land use and zoning studies.
- Prepares written reports for zoning proposals.
- Conducts surveys in an area and gathers information on the residents.
- Prepares maps representing existing and proposed land use and other data for submission or presentation to state, municipality, or county.
- Designs and prepares charts representing economic conditions.
- Organizes and prepares written and graphic materials for internal presentations.
- Prepares proposals for potential redevelopment sites.
- Researches design, construction, and market trends of cities and large scale mixed-use development.
- Assists in the development and execution of public outreach and engagement plans and activities.
- Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with agencies and others involved with the land use, planning activities of the unit.
- Maintains essential records and files.
- Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in urban design, environmental design, architecture, landscape architecture, or urban planning.
Experience
One (1) year of professional experience in urban design, municipal, county, or state planning, or architecture.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of concepts, principles, and techniques of urban design, architecture, and land use planning.
- Knowledge of the problems involved in urban design, architecture, and planning work.
- Knowledge of the planning problems presented by population densities, shifts in population, and the attendant demands for utility services of all kinds and other community services.
- Ability to gather and analyze data.
- Ability to analyze and interpret drafting, designing and planning problems, organize assigned work and develop effective work methods.
- Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret basic laws and regulations.
- Ability to prepare maps, charts, graphs and plans.
- Ability to create three-dimensional digital models of potential development or Proposed modifications to a site.
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those involved in the work of the unit.
- Ability to identify and define planning goals and objectives.
- Ability to prepare correspondence.
- Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative planning reports, studies, and surveys containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Ability to maintain records, reports, maps, plans, and files.
- Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
Possession of a Master's degree in urban design or urban planning from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of indicated experience.